Kochi: The admin of INC Keralam's X handle, sacked over a controversial post seeking the resignation of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), has called the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee's (KPCC) decision to name him in an apology letter as 'unfortunate' and 'legally flawed', but offered to resume his services if recalled.
Vijay Thottathil, who led a team of 'volunteers' that managed the popular X handle (@INCKerala) for at least three years, was sacked by the KPCC, which also issued an 'unconditional apology' in response to a legal notice issued by Supreme Court Bar Association Joint Secretary Meenesh Dubey.
The controversial post, which has since been removed, was aimed at CJI Surya Kant during the Delhi protests calling for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral reforms. The post read: “If law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.”
Kerala Congress tenders unconditional apology to CJI Surya Kant over tweet calling for resignationRead here: https://t.co/LhO4Hba2c7@INCKerala https://t.co/zJpI7lXkKr
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) October 28, 2026
Thottathil thrown under the bus?
“It was unfortunate because normally that does not happen,” Vijay Thottathil told Reporter World over the phone from Dubai, where he is based. He was referring to the KPCC naming him at least four times in its response dated October 22, 2026.
“Recently, there was a controversy in the BJP in Assam, and they sacked the person concerned, but they just mentioned that the admin has been removed. That's it,” Thottathil said. In February this year, the BJP Assam's X admin was sacked in connection with an AI-generated video allegedly featuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“I don't know what made them (KPCC) do that. I will not comment against the KPCC for doing that because I respect the KPCC and the AICC. But they should have had some compelling reason to do that. They must have received legal advice, but it was a flawed one.
“Many of the advocates who spoke to me said that naming a person (in the response) was unnecessary. If you issue an apology, you say that the post has been deleted immediately and there is no reason to take it forward further,” Thottathil said.
I took a mindful decision: KPCC Chief
KPCC president Sunny Joseph told Reporter World that he took the decision to sack the admin and it was supported by the party leadership.
Joseph, who is also the Minister for Power in the V D Satheesan-led UDF government in Keralam, said he had instructed Thottathil to remove the controversial post. “Then and there, I asked him to remove the post and, now he has also been removed.”
However, naming 'Thottathil' in the KPCC response has not gone down well with supporters of the party, especially the social media movements connected to it. The All India Congress Volunteers Committee and India With Congress, among others, have condemned the naming of Thottathil. “But it is not up to them; I took a mindful decision,” Joseph said.
“I don't know this person; he was entrusted by the previous KPCC leadership, not by me. But when you are given such responsibilities, it is important to not put the party in trouble and consult the leadership regarding controversial subjects,” Joseph said.
AICVC unequivocally condemns this reprehensible statement.The deliberate scapegoating of an individual to evade accountability is both disgraceful and indefensible.We categorically reject this blatant attempt to absolve oneself of responsibility at Vijay’s expense.We stand resolutely with @vijaythottathil.AICVC will issue its official statement tomorrow.
— All India Congress Volunteers Committee (@official_aicvc) October 27, 2026
'I have become a target'
In hindsight, Thottathil thinks the original post regarding the CJI could have been avoided.
“The post could have been avoided,” Thottathil said. “But it was not a sentimental post. It was a political post, calling to take accountability, because of the ongoing issues and the protests in Delhi.
“Now it will be twisted by the BJP, because they want to target the INC Keralam, which has been a thorn in their throat for four-five years. The kind of outrage we see is proof that we have been irritating them. Now my identity has been exposed. But the support, which I have been getting, is overwhelming and I'm thankful for it,” Thottathil said.
'We're not paid. We spend from our pockets'
@INCKerala is one of the most active political handles linked to opposition parties in India. It had around 50,000 followers in early 2023 and doubled in follower count during the Lok Sabha polls a year later. Until mid-October, the handle that has 160.6 k followers, made regular posts, often more than a dozen a day. But in the last two days, there have been no posts from the handle, giving a clear hint that it is not managed by anyone at present.
“They (KPCC) have said that we have been removed, so we are all out of the team. Everybody has quit,” Thottathil said. “After the KPCC formally gave my name and said that I have been sacked, then there is no reason for me to continue. So I called it a day. But if they call me back, I would happily go because at the end of the day I am a Congress soldier.”
Thottathil said he had been associated with @INCKerala since Anil Antony was in charge. Anil, the son of former Chief Minister A K Antony, resigned and joined the BJP in 2023. “We love Congress, and we follow the ideology and that is the sole reason behind this effort,” Thottathil said. “Many people think that we are paid, but it is all volunteering. We spend from our pockets."
“I manage it, but there is a team that has no ego, which works 24/7 to bring out the facts, numbers, content with humour and political targeting and everything. Some are based in Bengaluru and Kerala. It is not an individual effort, so blaming me was unfortunate.”
